Pico 4 Ultra and Enterprise VR headsets – detailed review

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After writing two posts about the new PICO 4 VR headset, the first one was about the rumoured features, price and launch date and the second one after launching the headset. We were so curious about the new Pico headset that we searched all over the internet for the information we could get as these headsets are currently only available in China.

We stumbled upon a YouTube video from a Chinese YouTuber, where she gave a detailed video about the headset. As well as we collected important information from Pico’s official website. We are putting all the information for our readers in this post to get more insights into the 4 Ultra and Pico 4 Enterprise editions.

Review from YouTuber

Pico 4 Ultra VR Headset: Key Features

The YouTuber has a domestic VR headset version (Chinese version) and she changed the system language of the headset to English hence there might be some changes in the global version.

During her initial review, the Youtuber mentioned that PICO included four new virtual environments and supports for AI environment generation. You can choose keywords like rainbow, aurora, and floating ice to generate the environments. Every buyer can generate up to three free environments. And, there is a new immersive toggle added to the dock.

According to her analysis, there are five reasons to choose the Pico Ultra VR headset.

1. Hardware upgrade

The 4 Ultra has upgraded hardware – It has a Snapdragon®️ XR2 Gen 2 CPU, the RAM is upgraded from 8 GB to 12 GB and storage from 128 GB to 256 GB. The battery capacity is increased to 5700mAh.

This hardware upgrades inhence the overall performance of the VR headset.

2. Multi-window support

Pico Ultra can support up to 20 multi-windows in a 360-degree layout. These windows can be managed by using the controller. You can drag them by holding the bottom control bar and resize the windows by holding the corners. Pico also allows larger window scaling called “Panoscreen” and it can be moved as a whole using the control bar at the bottom.

The P4 Ultra can be very useful for the Android ecosystem. You can directly install Android apps by downloading APKs from websites or using a Type C USB drive to install the APKs.

3. Spatial videos

It’s easier to capture and import spatial videos on the Pico. There is a catch about the spatial videos, while you see the sample footage those do not seem impressive but when you revisit the video after being there you will experience them much more impactful.

4. Full-body motion capture

With these headsets, Pico also launched the second generation PICO Motion Tracker 2. This new tracker provides the ability to recognize the user’s full body posture. This YouTuber has tested 2 beta games with this tracker, Tempclub and Dance Dash and she felt that the calibration process of these trackers has been optimized.

There are only two steps to using Motion Tracker 2 with a Pico headset:

1. Stand still after wearing the trackers on your legs
2. Look down to your ankles (make sure not to block the sensors)

Avoid any type of clothes which can hide the trackers as it might cause recognition issues.

5. Streaming users

Ultra Pico 4 provides the highest degree of comfort with its balanced design and hard strap. Accordingly, to her, this is an important reason many StreamVR players prefer Pico headsets. There is one more reason gamers will prefer to choose Pico, it can open 2D windows while you are playing VR games.

For example, if you are playing a game on Pico, you can open a new 2D window with the game guides in the browser to take help or you can open a chat window to reply to messages.

Drawbacks

At the end of the video, the YouTuber was sceptical about the price of the global version.

1. The Pico Ultra is pricier than the Pico 4
2. Many existing Pico 4 users wanted to use the same OS on the new headset
3. The chipset of the 4 Ultra isn’t powerful.

Pico 4 Ultra vs Meta Quest 3

There are some noticeable differences between the Pico Ultra and Quest 3:

Information from the PICO website

Pico 4 Enterprise

Also called Pico 4e, this VR headset is specifically designed to meet the requirements of XR businesses. This device weighs up to 591gm without the strap and 600gm with the strap.

Specs:

A Closer Look at the 4 Ultra Features: PICO Website

1. Image Quality in Mixed Reality (MR):

The PICO Ultra offers an 8MP colour passthrough mode, where the final image is a combination of shots taken by the 32MP cameras. Although the displayed resolution is less than 8MP due to head motion compensation and image cropping, the experience remains smooth, with a frame rate 72Hz in MR mode. This feature will be available in a future software update.

2. 360° Screen Functionality:

The 4 Ultra allows multiple apps to open simultaneously in a 360° virtual workspace. Each app window can be as large as 280 inches, but opening too many windows may slow down the system. Future updates will improve this feature, including screen mirroring via the PICO mobile app.

3. System Performance:

Running heavy applications or multiple apps at once can cause the device to slow down. However, future updates will optimize the device’s performance and introduce new features like keyboard and mouse interaction and spatial audio recording.

4. Network and Streaming Improvements:

The PICO Ultra uses advanced AV1 encoding, which compresses video data more efficiently than older formats. This results in reduced latency during streaming, improving overall performance.

5. Motion Tracking and User Experience:

The PICO Motion Tracker, weighing around 27gm, offers full-body tracking with minimal delay and high accuracy. The setup is simple, and the calibration takes just a few seconds.

6. Device Weight and Build:

The Ultra PICO 4 is carefully balanced, with a total weight of around 580gm. The front of the device, including the foam pad, weighs 304gm, while the back, which includes the straps and battery, weighs 276gm.

7. Graphics and Controller Improvements:

The PICO 4 Ultra features a significant graphics upgrade, with a rendering resolution of 1920 x 1920, over 62% higher than the previous model. The controller is more compact, making it easier to handle.

Conclusion

After an in-depth exploration of the PICO 4 Ultra and its features, it’s clear that this headset is a strong contender in the VR market. With significant hardware upgrades, such as the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 CPU and increased RAM and storage, it offers a powerful performance that enhances the overall VR experience. The ability to support up to 20 multi-windows in a 360-degree layout and its full-body motion tracking capabilities make it a versatile choice for both gaming and productivity.

However, while the Ultra brings many innovative features to the table, it’s not without its drawbacks. Concerns about its price, the slightly less powerful chipset, and some uncertainties about how the global version will differ from the Chinese version are worth considering. Additionally, when compared to the Meta Quest 3, the PICO Ultra offers some advantages, such as a higher battery capacity and more advanced camera specs, but it also faces competition in areas like display refresh rate and overall weight.

For users who prioritize advanced features and are willing to invest in a higher-end VR experience, the PICO 4 Ultra is certainly a device to consider. However, it’s important to weigh these factors against your specific needs and preferences in a VR headset.